Q4 2023 Highlights

Second-Quarter Highlights:

• Sales of $8.9 billion, up 24.7 percent year-on-year
• Organic local-currency sales increased 21.4 percent year-on-year
• Both GAAP and adjusted earnings per share of $2.59
• Operating cash flow of $1.9 billion; adjusted free cash flow of $1.6 billion, up 2 percent year-on-year
• Returned $1.4 billion to shareholders via dividends and gross share repurchases
• Updated full-year 2021 outlook: Earnings per share of $9.70 to $10.10 vs. $9.20 to $9.70, previously ST. PAUL, Minn., July 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — 3M (NYSE: MMM) today reported second-quarter 2021 results and updated its 2021 full-year outlook.

“3M delivered strong performance in the second quarter, once again posting organic growth across all business groups and geographic areas, along with increased earnings and robust cash flow,” said Mike Roman, 3M chairman and chief executive officer. “In an uncertain economic environment, our team executed well and drove innovation across our businesses, while continuing to build for the future. Looking forward, we remain focused on investing in growth opportunities coming out of the pandemic, improving productivity, advancing sustainability and delivering differentiated value for our customers and shareholders.”

Second-Quarter Results

Sales grew 24.7 percent year-on-year to $8.9 billion. Organic local-currency sales increased 21.4 percent while divestitures decreased sales by 0.7 percent. Foreign currency translation increased sales by 4.0 percent year-on-year.

Total sales grew 28.1 percent in Transportation and Electronics, 24.9 percent in Health Care, 22.4 percent in Safety and Industrial, and 20.4 percent in Consumer. Organic local-currency sales increased 24.2 percent in Transportation and Electronics, 23.2 percent in Health Care, 17.8 percent in Consumer, and 17.6 percent in Safety and Industrial.

On a geographic basis, total sales grew 28.7 percent in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), 26.1 percent in the Americas, and 20.2 percent in Asia Pacific. Organic local-currency sales grew 25.6 percent in the Americas, 20.1 percent in EMEA, and 15.4 percent in Asia Pacific.

Both second-quarter GAAP and adjusted earnings were $2.59 per share, resulting in year-on-year increases of 15 percent and 44 percent on a GAAP and adjusted-basis, respectively. Second quarter operating income was $2.0 billion with operating margins of 22.0 percent, as referenced in the “Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Measures” section.

The company’s operating cash flow was $1.9 billion with adjusted free cash flow of $1.6 billion contributing to adjusted free cash flow conversion of 103 percent. 3M returned $1.4 billion to shareholders in the second quarter of 2021, including $858 million in cash dividends and $503 million of gross share repurchases. See the “Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Measures” section for applicable information.

Full-Year 2021 Outlook

Based on a strong first half of the year, 3M updated its guidance for full-year 2021. The company expects reported total sales growth of 7 to 10 percent with organic local-currency sales growth in the range of 6 to 9 percent. This compares to the company’s prior expectations for total sales growth of 5 to 8 percent with organic local-currency growth of 3 to 6 percent. 3M now forecasts earnings in the range of $9.70 to $10.10 per share versus a prior expectation of $9.20 to $9.70. The company expects full-year free cash flow conversion to be in the range of 90 to 100 percent versus a previous range of 95 to 105 percent, as referenced in the “Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Measures” section.